GOLF FINE WIN FOR P. G. F. SMITH

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26362, 5 March 1951, Page 8

GOLF FINE WIN FOR P. G. F. SMITH

CENTENNIAL STROKE CHAMPIONSHIP

D. L. WOON BEATEN BY SIX STROKES

P. G. F. Snriith (Auckland), the New Zealand amateur champion in 1938, completely outclassed a very strong field in the Canterbury Provincial Golf Association's Centennial 72-hole stroke championship, which was concluded at Russley yesterday afternoon. The first 36 holes were played at Waitikiri on Saturday. The runner-up, D. L. Woon, was six strokes behind Smith, who returned a total of 291. Smith led the field by one stroke from Woon after the first 36 holes, and Increased his lead to four strokes after three rounds. B. M. Silk (Wanganui) was second at this stage. Smith completed his last round in 72, two strokes better than scratch. This round, along with Woon’s final round of 72, constituted a new amateur course record.

Both courses were in excellent order, and the greens were handled confidently by most of the leading players. The intermediate championship was won by J. G. Scott with a fine total of 324, and the junior title by F, J. Horgan with a total of 350 for the four rounds. The first 36 holes of the intermediate championship were played at Russley on Saturday and the second at Shirley yesterday. The first 36 holes of the junior championship were played at Shirley on Saturday and the second at Waitikiri yesterday. Handicap events over 72 holes were neld in each grade. The senior event was won by J. Rennie (4) with a total of 297, the intermediate by R. E. Thomas (13) 283, and the junior by F. J. Horgan (18) 279. A record number of' entries was received for the tournament. A total of 102 was received for the senior championship, 114 for the intermediate, and 90 for the junior championship. The three courses were filled during the two days, play commencing early in the morning and finishing late in the afternoon. ■Grand Exhibition Smith gave a grand exhibition of strokeplay in each of the four rounds. He established a lead of one stroke in the first round, and he continued to lead the field throughout. There was a possibility that he would lose the lead at the beginning of the fourth round, as he started badlv by dropping three strokes In the first five holes. At this stage Woon, who had started well, with a eagle and a birdie in the first five holes, was only one stroke behind. Smith, however, played his finest golf of the week, and reeled off a string of excellent figures. For the next 10 holes he was five strokes better than scratch. He dropped a stroke at the iong sixteenth, but immediately picked it up at the seventeenth. He finished the round in 72, to be a comfortable winner. Smith was one of the few leading players in the tournament who kept to the middle of the fairway. Yesterday, he played completely within himself, and was seldom in any of the tightly placed trees, which caused difficulties for the other P1 Woon did not strike the ball consistently well at any stage in the four rounds. He had patches of brilliance, but was too often off the fairway, with both drives and second shots. He had some excellent holes, both at Russley and Waitikiri. but he failed to get any benefit from these bright patches. He appeared very tired yesterdav, and all his shots lacked their usual crispness and accuracy. Silk was in second place after three rounds, four strokes behind Smith. He had a good chance of improving his position. and in the fourth round was out in 37, scratch figures, compared with Smiths 38. He three-putted two greens on the way home, and completed the round in 76 Silk had two fine rounds, one of 72 st Waitikiri, and another of 74 at Russley. He was more consistent from the tee than most of the other competitors, and more often than not lost his strokes with shots to the green. He . handled the greens well, and his putting was more accurate than in the previous four days of play. . , _ . W. G.” Horne (Wellington) was steady in his scoring, and would have scoreci ..^ et ? e 5 except for one or two lapses with nis dl w e A. Campbell (Auckland) started well with two good rounds of 72 and 76 at Waitikiri but failed to hold • this form yesterday. He experienced difficulty with the greens, and was occasionally troubled by the tightness of the fairways Apart from Woon. the leading Canterbury player .was D. C. Watson (Waitikiri). But for a lapse in the third round with an 81, his total would have been much ’ I better. He returned a totalf of 307, 16 strokes behind Smith. The surprising failure In the later stages ' was that of A. R. Kitto (Wanganui). Kitto ' started the final round seven strokes be- ■ hind Smith, and although he began well. . he lapsed badly and finished the round in 83. 10 strokes more than scratch. Kitto 1 had two bright patches yestprday, how- ■ ever, with two fine eagle threes at the ' 460 yards ninth hole. In the morning round his brassie second finished only : seven feet from the flag, and in the ' afternoon, he chipped in from outside • the green. ’ Results:—

J. Rennie, 77 . 76, 83. 77—313: W. D. Armstrong, 76, 79, 80, 79—314; J. Mitchell, 78 78, 80. 79—315'; P. Lewis, 80. 77 . 79, 80— 316; R. Dailey, 79, 76, 79, 83—317; M. W. Stanley, 79, 80, 79, 79-317; A. R. Timms. 78. 77, 83, 79—317; H. C. Hill, 75. 80, 82. 80—317; J. L. Black, 79. 81. 81, 77-318; I. A. McLennan. 78. 79. 83. 79-319; D. H. Richardson. 82. 78, 74, 85—319: L. J. Domigan, 82, 80. 78. 79—319. Intermediate J. G. Scott. 81, 83, 82. 78—324; R. E. Thomas, 82. 86, 86. 81—335; H. M. S. Dawson. 73. 86. 94, 84—337; W. Eckert. 88, 89. 78, 84—339: R. A. Grimshaw, 86, 86, 86. 82 -340; R. G. Stead, 85 . 83, 83. 91—342. J. Durry, 86. 86. 85. 85—342. Junior F. J. Horgan, 90, 87, 88. 85—350; J. M. Crombie, 89, 89. 91, 89—358; G. D. Ashby, 88, 91. 94, 86—359; G. M. Jennings. 88. 88. 97. 87—360; R. M. Faulls, 89, 88, 93, 90— 360; A. W. Low, 96, 90, 87, 88—361; R. G. Holmes. 87. 83. 96, 99—365: M. E. Honeybone, 84, 83. 97, 94—368: C. M. Kavanagh, 99, 89, 89, 92—369; T. P. Cannon, 98, 91, 92, 89—370. HANDICAP EVENTS Senior First Round.—A. R. Timms. 75, 4—71; W. A. Campbell, 72. scr—72: H. C. Hill, 75, 3—72; P. G. F. Smith, 71. 4-2—73; J. A. McLennan, 78, 5—73; J. Rennie, 77, 4—73; C. T. Werren, 80, 7—73. Second Round.—N. M. Fowke. 72, 3—69; G. H. Owen, 79, 8—71; W. R. Collins, 77, 6—71; J. Rennie, 76, 4—72; D. C. Watson. 73. 1—72; D. L. Woon, 71. 4-2—73; J. A. Hansen, 76, 3—73; W. Simpson, 80. 7—73; J. Thornton, 80. 7—73. Third Round.—D. H. Richardson, 74, 3 71; O. L. Andersen, 78, 5 —73; J. B. Ross, 77, 3—74; J. J. Potts, 80, 6—74; A. E. Benzie, 83, 8—75; C. S. Bristol. 75. scr—7s; M. W. pavis, 82. 7—75: A. E. Ison, 78, 3 —75; A. R. Kitto, 73. 4-2—75; G. H. Owen, 83 . 8—75: W. Simpson, 82, 7—75; P. G. F. Smith, 73, 4-2—75. Fourth Round.—J. Rennie. 77. 4—73; J. J. Potts, 79, 6—73: W. G. Horne. 74, scr—--74; I. A. McLennan, 79. 5—74; P. G. F. Smith, 72. 4-2—74; D. L. Woon. 72, 4-2 74; D. C. Watson, 75. 1—74. Intermediate First Round.—H. M. S. Dawson, 73, 9 64; C. D. Doyle, 80, 11—69; R. E. Thomas, 82. 13—69; W. L. Fairclough, 82. 12—70; G. S. Palmer, 80, 10—70; A. B. Anderson, 82, 11—71; W. C. Latham, 84, 13—71. Second Round.—W. G. Ellis, 80. 10—70: L. J. Russell, 80, 9—71; A. D. Muir, 86, 15—71; J. P. O’Gorman, 82, 10—72; J. Cunneen. 84. 12—72; I. K. Ireland, 84, 12 —72; A. Umbers, 85, 13—72. Third Rpund.—W. Eckert, 78. 9—69; M. J. McNally. 82. 13—69; W. V. Cowles. 82. 13—69: B. G. Donovan. 82, 10—72: D. G Silvester. 84, 12—72. Fourth Round.—H. E. Clarke. 82, 13—69; J. G. Scott. 78. 8—70; R. E. Thomas, 81, 10—71; R. A. Grimshaw, 82, 11—71; N. E Tingey, 84, 13—71; P. F. Polson, 83 . 9—74: J. Durry, 85 , 9—76. Junior First Round.—M. E. Honevbone. 84, 19— 65; R. G. Holmes, 87. 20—67; G. M. Jennings, 88, 20-68; F. H. Innes. 89. 21-68; G. D. Ashby, 88. 18—70; D. A. Clifford. 86, 16—70. Second Round.—A. E. Whiteman 87, 20 —67; F. J. Horgan. 87, 18—69; T. P. Cannon, 91. 22—69; C. M. Kavanagh, 89, 18— 71; R. M. Faulls, 88, 16—72: G. M Jennmgs, 88. 16—72; H. S. Mason. 90, 18— Third Round.—R. M. Stokes. 86. 16—70-S-Ander son 87. 16-71; C. W. Johnson, ®8- 17—71; A. W. Low, 87 16—71; R J Richardson. 87. 16—71; A. Prisk, 90. 18— Fourth Round.—T. P. Cannon. 92. 22—70on w ?, or s? n u 88 / J 8 -™: R G- Bishop, 90, 19—71; G. D. Ashby. 88. 18—70. NAVAL OFFICERS' TOURNEY The naval officers’ golf match, played for the President’s trophy on Saturday afternoon, was won by B. Petrie. Scores:—B. Petrie. 82. 16—66; R. Gowan ?2. 14—68; R. Oueree. 86. 17—69; J. Davis' 89, 18-71; J. Wood, 89. 18—71; R. Bastion' 89. 18—71; B. Nicholas. 90. 19—71.

CHAMPIONSHIPS Senior 1st 2nd 3rd 4th * rd. rd. rd. rd. Tl. P. G. F. Smith . 71 75 73 72 291 D. L. Woon . 76 71 78 72 297 B. M. Silk . 72 77 74 76 299 W. G.' Horne . '76 75 77 74 302 W. A. Campbell C. S. Bristol . 72 . 74 76 75 79 75 78 82 305 306 D. C. Watson . 78 73 81 75 307 S. Keeble . 77 78 76 77 308 A. R. Kitto . 77 76 73 83 309 N. M. Fowke . 78 72 80 79 309 N. V. Edwatds . 78 78 78 77 311 M. R. Blank . 78 75 81 78 312